In the not-so-distant past I was lolling on a beautiful beach in Oaxaca when a man and a young boy approached me with an armful of colorful hammocks. These were too large to fit in my carry-on so I politely declined. The boy had my number, though. He reached into a bag slung over his small shoulders and presented me with a variety of teeny, tiny hammocks. I said, “Well I can fit one of those in my bag for sure, but what would I put in such a tiny hammock?”
“Cats”, he replied.
SOLD.
Cat hammocks abound on the internet because, really, cats can and will sleep anywhere. But the cat hammock actually came about in a far more practical way–as a place for cats to sleep aboard boats. In particular, Navy vessels.
For years sailors have adopted cats to serve as crew on ships, providing much needed companionship in addition to official duties as rodent patrol. Scot Christenson, writing in Naval History Magazine, also notes that “Superstitious sailors believed that cats protected them by bringing good luck. Others thought that the keen eyesight of cats would help guide them in a shipwreck at night, because a cat can more easily detect distant lights.”
One sailing cat, Simon (above), even received an official medal for his duty aboard the HMS Amethyst, a British Navy frigate. Originally adopted by the crew as a stray from Hong Kong in 1948, Simon’s sweet, grumpy face was a real morale-builder and he made fast friends aboard the ship.
In the summer of 1949 the HMS Amethyst came under fire while patrolling the Yangtze river. The ship took over 50 direct hits, killing its captain, injuring poor Simon, and leaving the ship and crew stranded for 10 weeks. The hot, humid weather was ripe for a rat infestation and the stranded sailors lived in fear that the rats would eat through their meager provisions. But Simon, despite shrapnel wounds and burns to his legs, back, and face, singlepawedly protected his fellow sailors’ precious stockpile.
Once the crisis was over, Simon was awarded an Amethyst campaign ribbon for “distinguished and meritorious service.” Sadly, upon returning from battle in November of 1949, Simon succumbed to an infection caused by his war wounds. Hundreds of people, including the entirety of the HMS Amethyst crew, attended Simon’s funeral at the PDSA animal cemetery in Ilford, England. His gravestone notes, “HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.”
While cats on ships were indeed useful—even heroic—it goes without saying that their main job was the same as it is today: being the cutest thing ever. Here’s a look back at the historical happiness that is ship’s cats in hammocks (inspired by great series of Tweets by Molly Hodgdon):
Tiny friend of HMCS Iroquois. 1944. pic.twitter.com/jtSsPXIca8
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
This little butterbean watches over his crew as they sleep aboard the Royal Canadian Navy destroyer HMCS Iroquois in 1944.
Two potatoes in a sling. HMAS Nizam, 1941. pic.twitter.com/RRvwRmVK6C
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
A double-stuffed cat hammock on the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Nizam, 1941.
Good news: I have gathered a bunch of photos of naval ship cats in tiny hammocks. Here are sailors of the HMS Hermione in 1941 surrounding their sleeping cat, Convoy. pic.twitter.com/X1iAaezxk5
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
This little critter, named Convoy, obviously enthralled the sailors aboard the British Navy frigate HMS Hermione in 1941.
Crew member of HMS Warspite asleep with the ship’s mascot kitten in its hammock, 1944. pic.twitter.com/QVlDziqWz0
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
Nothing but sweet dreams on the Queen Elizabeth-class battleship HMS Warspite in 1944.
Kitten aboard HMS Achilles ca. 1939. pic.twitter.com/4452m6nxdM
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
This handsome sailor keeps an eye out for action aboard the Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMS Achilles in 1939.
Saipan of the USS New Mexico. pic.twitter.com/vjisrV3mfs
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
This little calico, named Saipan, brought joy to sailors aboard the battleship USS New Mexico.
Thomas of HMS Shropshire got a whole bedtime series. pic.twitter.com/iIzTQrza8G
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
Thomas, of the HMS Shropshire, was obviously coddled.
Kitten on HMAS Kanimbla at some point during WWII. pic.twitter.com/Xt36krkK1g
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
Sailoring is hard work for this little chonk aboard the HMAS Kanimbla, a landing platform amphibious ship operated by the Royal Australian Navy.
Kitten mascot of the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, ca. 1945. pic.twitter.com/QDCARxVsQG
— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 2, 2021
Dreaming of distant shores aboard the HMS Eagle in 1945. Don’t you just love how this kitty also has a tiny pillow?
And lastly, the famous “Trained Cats of the USS Mississippi” in 1925. So beloved that they even got their own tiny cat ladder for easier tiny cat hammock access.
Thank you for your service, high seas kitties.